| While Ashes are quite commonly planted in public | | | | which a Mediterranean climate is liable to reach. |
| parks and gardens, and even as street trees in | | | | Species do vary in their height and spread. |
| some places, they are rarely seen in private | | | | Fraxinus pennsylvanica (Fraxinus is the botanical |
| gardens. Perhaps many homeowners feel the tree | | | | name for Ash) and F.udhei, are deciduous and |
| is a bit "common", or lacking in showy flowers and | | | | evergreen respectively. Both are fairly large, |
| edible or decorative fruit. This is a pity because in | | | | reaching over 10 meters (30ft) in height and |
| terms of natural shape and form, ashes can be | | | | spread, and so are inappropriate for small gardens. |
| amongst the most beautiful of landscape trees | | | | F. velutina, of similar dimensions, is native to |
| available to gardeners. Their neat, oval shape is | | | | South-Western US, and withstands both the |
| very distinctive and virtually unique. | | | | extreme heat of a desert, and cold down to |
| Other than their landscaping qualities, there are | | | | about -20c. Its shape is almost pyramidal when |
| many good reasons for considering Ashes for a | | | | young. |
| private garden. They are fast-growing, hardy to | | | | There is no point in planting such species in small |
| heat and cold, (at least the deciduous species) and | | | | spaces, with the intention of shortening branches |
| generally withstand attacks from pests and | | | | that intrude into paths and buildings. Such pruning |
| disease without the need for intervention. As they | | | | ruins the natural shape of the tree, and so it is |
| have a clearly defined shape, they require little | | | | very important to choose a species that is |
| pruning, at least for shaping purposes. Ashes do | | | | suitable for the plot. |
| not possess aggressive roots, and so can be used | | | | For small gardens, Fraxinus syriaca from the |
| as excellent shade trees in the patio. | | | | Eastern Mediterranean can be a fabulous addition |
| Another very significant property is that they | | | | to the garden composition. In fact, its open, habit |
| grow well in alkaline soils. This makes them | | | | and finely fissured bark, are so beautiful, that the |
| particularly suitable for dry, Mediterranean | | | | tree can serve as a focal point in the garden. |
| climates, although they do need some additional | | | | Added to that is the lovely fall color which is |
| irrigation through the summer. While the deciduous | | | | particularly pronounced in climates that experience |
| species can take quite severe winter cold, even | | | | even light frosts in the winter. |
| the evergreen ones are hardy to any cold to | | | | |